James william patterson



(No Model.)

J. W. PATTERSON. GOIN AGTUATED LOCK.

No. 531,328. Patented Dec. 25, 1894.

UNITED STATES JAMES WILLIAM PATTERSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

oolN-AoTu-ATED LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,328,

dated December 25, 1 894.

Application Bled September 28, 1889, Serial No. 325,421. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: Be it known that I, JAMES WILLIAM PAT= TERSON, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Actuated Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locks designed to be unlocked by the insertion of a coin. Locks of this character are applicable to boxes for the renting of opera glasses in theaters, to the doors of telephone cabinets, and to the doors of closets or apartments, and in fact to any device which it is desired to have opened by a person who has first to deposit a coin foi the privilege of opening it.

My invention provides an improved construction of coin-actuated lock applicable to such apparatus.

The lock casing is formed with a coin conduit into which a coin maybe inserted and within the casing a coin propeller is located arranged to be movable to thrust or carry a coin through said conduit. The coin propeller extends out of the casing to the exterior orfis connected to some part upon the exterior which is adapted to be moved by hand, whereby motion is communicated manually to the coin propeller. Within the casing is a movable part projecting normally into the path traversed by the coin when moved by the propeller and adapted to be displaced by the thrust of the coin in its movement. The

- displacement of this movable part effects the unlocking of the lock either directly or indirectly, that is to say, the bolt or fastening pro-y vision of the lock is connected to the movable part so as to be moved thereby or as a consequence of the movement thereof. Hence, the insertion of a coin and the man ual movement of the coin propeller results in the unlocking of the lock." Preferably, the lock when thus unlocked remains so until it is relocked or reset by an attendant who is provided with a special key for the purpose.

In the accompanyingdrawing, the figure illustrating my invention is a front elevation, the lock portion being partly in section.

The coin-actuated lock C is constructed with an inclosing case E in box form, which is fastened to the back or other convenient part of the theater chair. The tumbler e may be variously mounted, but in the construction shown it is arranged to slide in vertical direction in guides o'r keepers ff, and is provided With a spring g tending to press downward. .This spring may be constructed to work in recesses in the tumbler and to reac-t against cross-rivets h which also constitute a stop to lirnit the movement of the tumbler. The bolt el is rendered normally retractile by being provided with spring i which tends to press thebolt back so as to unlock the opera-glass box,but is resisted by the ends of the bolt com-ing against the'tumbler e, as stated. This tumbler is formed with a notch e', into which theend of the bolt may enter when the tumbler is pressed upward.

This pressing upward of the tumbler is accomplished by the insertion of a coin and by pushing the coin between the tumbler and the plate p.

A coin-slot j is formed in the top-plate of the box or case E, and from this slot a coinchuteor conduit la extends downward Within the case being constructed by means of two parallel vertical plates, or in any other practicable manner. The space between these plates should be just sufficient to easily admit the prescribed coin. When the coin is inserted in the slotj it drops down to the bottom of the conduit k, where it rests oua plate p. A coin-propeller in the form of aplunger or pusher F is arranged to enter between the plates forming the slot, being mounted on a rod q which passes out at the right-hand side Vof the case and has fixed on its end 'a pushbutton G. After the coin has been inserted the person operating th'e lock presses in this push-button, thereby moving the coin-propeller F toward the left so that it pushes the coin (designated by the circle lettered H) bcv fore it and forces the coin through the space between the tumbler c and the plateo, thereby forcing the tumbler upward, and consequently unlocking the lock. The coin on being pushed through between the tumbler and platep drops down within the conduit k and falls through a slot or opening into the coinreceptacle J beneath the case E. tacle will be mounted and fastened in any suitable way so that'it cannot be take out the coins except by a cashier or money-collector who is provided Wi th a special key. Any suitable lock or fastening may be opened to This recep- IOO employed, the details of which it is not deemed necessary to illustrate as such key-aetuated locks are well known. As soon as the operator releases the pressure upon the button Gr the button and the coin-propeller F are retracted by the action of a spring r applied to the stem q. When the lock has thus been unlocked the opera-glass B may be lifted outof the box A. When the user is through with Io the glasses he will replace them in the box.

Subsequently an atttendant will examine each of the eoinactuated locks and will relock them. This he will do by inserting a special key, into a key-hole shown at s, and

i 5 by turning the key will press against the bolt d at t, and thereby pressing the bolt outwardly against the tension of the springr 1l so that the hook or projection d will enter the hasp a. formed on the top of the lid A of the box to 2o hold the lid closed. Upon so doing the tumbler e will be released by the disengagement of the bolt d with the notch e and the tumbler spring g will cause the tumbler to move downward, thus restoring the lock ready for the next operation.

It will be observed that in the use of my coin-actuated lock thus described the actual work of unlocking the lock is done by the power derived from the hand of the operator 3o and transmitted through the push-button G, and is not at all dependent upon the weight or momentum of the coin which is inserted into the lock. This form of lock is hence well adapted for use with coins of light weight 3 5 such as silver dimes, for example, the weight of which could not be relied upon to do the work of unlocking the lock. The insertion of too large a coin is prevented by the coin-slot jbeing made barely large enough to admit 4o the prescribed coin. lf too small a coin be inserted it will pass through between the tumbler e and plate p without displacing the tumbler sufficiently to bring its notch into register with the end of the bolt.

The slidingbolt d is arranged to work across the top of the box or receptacle A being formed with a hook or projection cl adapted to engage a hasp et formed on the top of the lid A of the box to hold thislid closed. This lid is shown partly dropped down in the drawing in order to more clearly show the construetion and the lock is shown in the locked position. The right-hand end of the bolt is pressed by a leaf-spring t against the tumbler e and when the latter is pressed back by a coin so as to bring its notch e into coincidence with the end of the bolt, the latter is thrust by the spring t' into this notch and its fastening projection g is displaced out ot' the hasp a. thereby releasing the door.

My invention may be variously modified in matters of detail without departing from those essential features which will be expressed in the claims.

I claim as my invention the following-defined novel features or combinations, substan tially as hereinbefore set forth, namely:

l. In a coin actuated lock the combination with a casing formed with a coin conduit, of the movable coin propeller, the sliding tumbler provided with a recess, and the sliding locking bolt adapted to directly engage said tumbler.

2. In a coin actuated lock the combination with a casing provided with a coin conduit, a plate extending partially across the coin conduit, a coin propeller, a sliding tumbler provided with a recess, and the sliding locking bolt adapted to directly engage said tumbler.

3. In a coin actuated lock the combination with a casing provided with a coin conduit, a plate extending partially across said conduit, a coin propeller, a sliding tumbler provided with a recess, the sliding locking boltI adapted to engage said tumbler and a spring bearing against the sliding bolt.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WILLIAM PATTERSON.

Witnesses:

i GEORGE W. FRASER, CHARLES K. FRASER. 

